A Few Good Men Page #32

KAFFEE:

You are like seven of the strangest

women I have ever met.

CUT TO:

INT. A WASHINGTON SALOON - NIGHT

A WAITRESS sets two drinks down in front of KAFFEE and ROSS,

who are sitting across from each other in a booth in the

back.

ROSS:

That was nice work today. The redirect

on Howard.

KAFFEE:

I have Markinson.

ROSS only takes a moment digest this.

ROSS:

Where is he?

KAFFEE:

A motel room in Arlington with 14

Federal Marshals outside his door.

Take a sip of your drink.

ROSS:

Damn.

KAFFEE:

The transfer order that Parkinson

signed is phoney. And Jessep's

statement that the six a.m. flight

was the first available is a lie,

we're checking the tower chief's

log. But in the meantime I'm gonna

put the Apostle Jon Kendrick on the

stand and see if we can't have a

little fun.

ROSS takes another sip of his drink, then lays it on the

line for Kaffee..

ROSS:

I have an obligation to tell you

that if you accuse Kendrick or Jessep

of any crime without proper evidence,

you'll be subject to Court-Martial

for professional misconduct. And

that's something that'll be stapled

to every job application you ever

fill out. Markinson's not gonna hold

up, he's a crazy man. I'm not saying

this to intimidate you. I'm being

your lawyer.

KAFFEE:

Thanks, Jack. And I wanna tell you

that I think the whole f***in' bunch

of you are certifiably insane. And

this code of honor of yours makes me

wanna beat the sh*t outta something.

ROSS:

Don't you dare lump me in with Jessep

and Markinson and Kendrick because

we wear the same uniform. I'm your

friend, Danny, and I'm telling you,

I don't think your clients belong in

jail. But I don't get to make that

decision. I represent the Government

of the United States. Without passion

or prejudice. And my client has a

case.

(pause)

I want you to acknowledge that the

judge advocate has made you aware of

the possible consequences involved

in accusing a marine officer of a

felony without proper evidence.

KAFFEE:

I've been so advised.

ROSS stands up and heaves a few dollars on the table.

ROSS:

You got bullied into that courtroom,

Danny. By everyone. By Dawson, by

Galloway, sh*t, I practically dared

you. Not for a second have you

believed you could win. You got

bullied into that room by the memory

of a dead lawyer.

KAFFEE:

(pause)

You're a lousy softball player, Jack.

ROSS:

Your boys are going down. I can't

stop it anymore.

CUT TO:

INT. COURTHOUSE CORRIDOR - DAY

People are filing in. KENDRICK is standing at the entrance

to the courtroom. KAFFEE glides past him...

KAFFEE:

Batter up, J.J.

KENDRICK watches this impudent thing walk into the courtroom

as we

CUT TO:

INT. THE COURTROOM - DAY

KENDRICK's on the stand. What drives Kaffee's entire

examination of Kendrick is this: Kaffee's got him. He's gonna

win. At least this round. All he has to do is not let his

emotions take control of his professional skill.

SAM will have files and documents ready to hand Kaffee as he

needs them.

KAFFEE:

Lt. Kendrick, in your opinion, was

Private Santiago a good marine?

KENDRICK:

I'd say he was about average.

KAFFEE:

Lieutenant, you signed three fitness

reports on Santiago. On all three

reports you indicated a rating of

Below Average.

KENDRICK:

Yes. Private Santiago was Below

Average I didn't see the need in

trampling on a man's grave.

KAFFEE:

We appreciate that, but you're under

oath now, and I think unpleasant as

it may be, we'd all just as soon

hear the truth.

KENDRICK:

I'm aware of my oath.

KAFFEE's handed some more files.

KAFFEE:

Lieutenant, these are the last three

fitness reports you signed for Lance

Corporal Dawson and PFC Downey. Downey

received three straight marks of

Exceptional. Dawson received two

marks of Exceptional, but on this

most recent report, dated June 9th

of this year, he received a rating

of Below Average. It's this last

report that I'd like to discuss for

a moment.

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